W trek circuit in Torres del Paine (short version)

Welcome W Trek 4 Days

We know that a 4-day mountain route needs a good planning, that's why a briefing (explanation of the tour) is done in person or online. 

In addition, a few days before your arrival in Puerto Natales you will receive an email with instructions to pick up your welcome kit (which includes tickets, map, metal bottle...) and solve any last minute doubts you may have.

Access to Torres del Paine National Park

The first day of the Torres del Paine 4 Days tour will start early. You will have to go to the bus station in Puerto Natales, where you will take the bus to the park departing at 07:00 in the morning. 

The bus will take you to the Laguna Amarga welcome center. There you will register as a visitor and enter the park.

Torres del Paine Base Trekking

Once inside the park, you will take a minibus that will take you to the Welcome Center and from there you will start the Base Torres del Paine trekking.

The route of the first day will be the iconic ascent to the Base Torres viewpoint. 22 km of route divided in 3 parts: initial slope, descent and final ascent. 

The trail will start flat for 2 km. You will cross the Ascencio River Valley until you reach the first steep section of the route. This will be followed by 3 km of trail until you reach the Paso de los Vientos.

Lenga Forest - La Morrena - Base Torres Lookout Point

You will continue along a flat stretch of 4 km that passes through the Chileno Sector. You will enter a totally different ecosystem when the trail crosses a lenga forest and ends at the beginning of the third section. We recommend that you stop here and fill up your water bottle before facing the final stretch.

For almost 2 km you will find your own path between big rocks. The slope is hard but the reward is amazing: you will reach the viewpoint Base Torres del Paine.

Torres del Paine Base Viewpoint

From this viewpoint you can enjoy views of the famous granite towers that give the national park its name and the Torres del Paine Lake. 

Central or Chileno Sector

After the break, you will start your way back along the same trail, until you reach the Central or Chileno Sector, where you will have to check-in at the reception of the lodge and you will be assigned your time for dinner and breakfast the next day. Afterwards you will have free time to rest, shower, have a drink at the bar and have dinner.

💬 Note that the Chilean Sector is located 5 km away from the Central Sector, so if you stay in the Chilean Sector your route on day 1 will be shorter. Accommodation in Sector Chileno is assigned when Sector Central is full and only camping is available.

Lake Nordenskjöld

After breakfast, the second day in Torres del Paine begins with the least demanding stage. In this section there is very little elevation gain and the trail is in very good condition. During this day you will walk along the Nordenskjöld lake, cross a small river and walk some stretches along the beaches that form next to the lake.

Almirante Nieto Mountain - Cuernos del Paine

During most of the route the background scenery is Cerro Almirante Nieto and the Cuernos del Paine. Patagonia in all its splendor as a backdrop.

Francés Sector in Torres del Paine

Without a doubt, this is the best day to enjoy the scenery without rushing, as you will walk for 4:30 - 6:30 hours (depending on the location of your accommodation). So you can take it easy and enjoy the views.

Both the French and Cuernos Sectors have the smallest and coziest lodges and campsites. Some travelers prefer to stay in the Francés Sector to take a few kilometers off the next day's route, while others prefer to enjoy the Cuernos Sector, our favorite sector because of the lodge’s atmosphere.

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Please note that if you stayed in the Chileno Sector the night before, your route will be 5 Km longer.

The Torres del Paine 4 Days tour includes the second and third night of lodging in the Francés Sector or Cuernos Sector depending on availability. Both are good options. If you have a preference, please let us know when you make your reservation and we will do our best to adapt your program.

Italian Camp - French Lookout

The penultimate day of the route w in 4 days is one of the most demanding due to the cumulative elevation gain to reach the French and British viewpoints.

If you start from the Cuernos Sector, the first stretch until you reach the Francés Sector will be a flat 4 km. It continues with a stretch of 1.4 km to the intersection where the trail splits in two. One trail ascends to the French and British lookout and the other continues to Paine Grande. 

You will take the road that goes up to the viewpoints and walk 1 km to "Campamento Italiano". This camp is for the exclusive use of CONAF park rangers and offers a "nursery" service. Many travelers leave their large backpack here in order not to carry it during the climb to the viewpoints, and only carry a small backpack with water, warm clothes and snacks. 

The hike to the French lookout begins, a 2.5 km walk with 300 meters of elevation gain.

Torres del Paine British Lookout

Once at the French viewpoint you can continue to the British viewpoint, 4 km long with 280 meters of elevation gain. When you reach the viewpoint you will find a rocky area that you can climb to take the best picture of the British viewpoint and enjoy the best views. 

Skottsberg Lake

To finish the route, you will return along the same path and pick up the backpack from the "nursery". Afterwards, you will continue walking the remaining km to the Francés or Cuernos Sector with a slight negative slope that your legs will be grateful for. 

If you are staying in the Cuernos Sector on the third night of the tour, you will have to add another 3 km to the route.

Mount Paine Grande

The last day of the Torres del Paine tour in 4 days is a 14 km route to the Paine Grande sector. During the route some sections have wooden walkways to promote the revegetation of an area that suffered a fire. In addition to crossing a river by a suspension bridge and enjoy the views of both the lake and the Cerro Paine Grande.

First viewpoint of Grey Glacier

Only a few well-trained travelers manage to reach the first viewpoint of the Grey Glacier on this day, as the route is more than 30 km long. This viewpoint is so popular because it allows you to admire the magnitude of this glacier and see its ice floes floating on Lake Grey. 

Paine Grande 🚢 Pudeto 🚌 Puerto Natales

Once in Paine Grande you will have to go to the pier to take the catamaran that will take you to Pudeto (the catamaran ticket is included in the price of the tour). In Pudeto you will board the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales, where you will arrive at 09:30 PM.

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Please make sure you calculate your walking time well, as you will need to arrive at the pier at least 20 minutes before the departure of the catamaran.